Brief Bio

Stephen Merkowitz is a scientist and project manager at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. His research interests include: fundamental tests of General Relativity, lunar and interplanetary laser ranging, and space geodesy. He received his PhD in Physics from Louisiana State University working on gravitational wave antennas, and continued this research for two years in Frascati, Italy on a National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) fellowship. In 1998 he became a Research Associate at the University of Washington where he performed experimental tests of General Relativity and measurements of Newton’s gravitational constant (which remains the most precise measurement of “big G” to date). In 2000, he moved to NASA Goddard to serve as Deputy Project Scientist for the LISA Project, a space based gravitational wave mission. In 2009, Merkowitz went on a yearlong detail to the Executive Office of the President covering Physical Science and Engineering for the Office of Science and Technology Policy, followed by a detail at NASA Headquarters as Assistant Director of the Astrophysics Division. He returned to Goddard in 2011 and now manages NASA’s Space Geodesy Project and is Principal Investigator for the Global Positioning System Laser Retroreflector Array.

Current Projects

Space Geodesy Project

Project Manager for the Space Geodesy Project (SGP), a new NASA initiative started at the end of 2011 in response to the Earth Science Decadal and the National Research Council study “Precise Geodetic Infrastructure.” Part of the President’s Climate Initiative. SGP encompasses the development, operation, and maintenance of a Global Network of Space Geodetic instruments, a data transport and collection system, analysis and the public disseminations of data products required to maintain a stable terrestrial reference system. Ongoing tasks that include:

The operation and management of NASA’s existing global geodetic network and analysis systems, and the delivery of Space Geodetic products.

Operation of the prototype next generation space geodetic site at NASA Goddard with integrated next generation SLR, VLBI, GNSS, and DORIS stations, along with a system that provides for accurate vector ties between them.

Plan and implement the construction, deployment and operation of a NASA network of similar next generation stations that will become the core of a larger global network of modern space geodetic stations.

Assistant Director for Policy and Planning

NASA Headquarters,
Washington, D.C.
Developed policy and strategic plans for the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters. Developed the strategic and tactical plans for implementing the recommendations of the 2010 Astrophysics Decadal Survey. Supported the development of the Astrophysics Division’s inputs into the President’s budget requests. Led and supported inter-agency discussions with the Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Office of Management and Budget. Supported and participated in bilateral international discussions with the European Space Agency, Japan, and other international partners. Prepared and reviewed presentations to the NASA Advisory Council’s Science Committee and Astrophysics Subcommittee; the Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee; and other public presentations by the Division Director. Led interactions with and preparation of studies for the National Research Council.

2009
-
2010

Senior Policy Analyst for Physical Science and Engineering

Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President,
Washington, D.C.
Provided advice and support to the President’s Science Advisor on a variety of physical science and engineering issues. Worked closely on a day-to-day basis at the very highest levels of government to develop policy recommendations on a wide variety of technical and scientific topics, and coordinated across all parts of the Executive Branch to implement and monitor those policies. In particular, worked directly with senior officials from the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, in addition to coordinating with other offices within the Executive Office of the President such as the Office of Management and Budget.

2000
-
2009

Astrophysicist

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center,
Greenbelt, Maryland
Deputy Project Scientist and Acting Mission Systems Engineer for the international LISA Project, a space based gravitational wave mission. Work on all aspects of the LISA mission, including: scientific activities, technology development, detailed engineering, and management. Lead a group of nearly 30 engineers and scientists solving some of the most challenging aspects of the LISA mission. Collaborate routinely with scientists throughout the US and Europe. Examples include: ESTEC (Netherlands), University of Trento (Italy), Instituto de Ciencias del Espacio (Spain), and the University of Hannover (Germany). Work closely and interact daily with managers, engineers, and scientists at the European Space Agency.

Principle Investigator for the “Precision Lunar Laser Ranging” project and Co-Investigator for the NASA Lunar Science Institute node “Lunar University Node for Astrophysics Research (LUNAR): Exploring the Cosmos From the Moon.” These efforts are aimed at developing the next generation of lunar laser ranging instruments and deriving the science they will produce. Collaborate with scientists at the University of Colorado, University of California at San Diego, and the University of Maryland, among others.

Member of the Goddard “LaserComm” development team, which is building a photon counting instrument for space based laser communications. Member of the MLA-Earthlink experiment team, which is attempting to perform laser ranging and communications over interplanetary distances using the laser altimeter on the MESSENGER spacecraft and the Goddard observatory.

Chair of the Astrophysics Science Division Colloquium Committee and member of the Lunar Exploration Science Working Group Steering Committee. Member of the Advanced LIGO Project Advisory Panel, which reports directly to the director of the NFS funded LIGO Project.

Education

Doctor of Philosophy, Louisiana State University, 1995. Program in Physics. Major area of study: Experimental General Relativity. Dissertation: “Truncated Icosahedral Gravitational Wave Antenna.”

Master of Science, Louisiana State University, 1994. Program in Physics. Major in General Relativity, Minor in High Energy Physics.

Bachelor of Arts, University of Colorado at Boulder, 1989. Major in Physics.

Brief Bio

Stephen Merkowitz is a scientist and project manager at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. His research interests include: fundamental tests of General Relativity, lunar and interplanetary laser ranging, and space geodesy. He received his PhD in Physics from Louisiana State University working on gravitational wave antennas, and continued this research for two years in Frascati, Italy on a National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) fellowship. In 1998 he became a Research Associate at the University of Washington where he performed experimental tests of General Relativity and measurements of Newton’s gravitational constant (which remains the most precise measurement of “big G” to date). In 2000, he moved to NASA Goddard to serve as Deputy Project Scientist for the LISA Project, a space based gravitational wave mission. In 2009, Merkowitz went on a yearlong detail to the Executive Office of the President covering Physical Science and Engineering for the Office of Science and Technology Policy, followed by a detail at NASA Headquarters as Assistant Director of the Astrophysics Division. He returned to Goddard in 2011 and now manages NASA’s Space Geodesy Project and is Principal Investigator for the Global Positioning System Laser Retroreflector Array.